Lacing-fastener for boots or shoes



UNITED STATES HERBERT M. NICHOLS, OF

PATENT OFFICE.

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

LAClNG-FASTENER FOR BOOTS OR SHOES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 574,686, dated January 5, 1897.

Application filed January 29, 1894. Renewed November 21, 1896. Serial No. 613,046. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT M. N IOHOLS, of Boston, county of Suifolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Lacing-Fasteners for Boots or Shoes, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representin g like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide an improved lacing-fastener for boots or shoes.

In accordance with this invention I provide each end of the shoe-lacing with one member of a two-part fastener, the members being so constructed that they may be locked together to form an eye surrounding and to retain the two ends of the lacing.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a sufficient portion of a laced shoe to enable my invention to be understood; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the lacings drawn tightly down Fig. 3, an enlarged detail view showing the manner of clamping the loose ends of the lacings to prevent slip. Fig. 4 shows one of the fastening members detached; Fig. 5, a blank from which one of the members is struck up, and Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a oneeye fastener.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a portion-of lace-shoe provided with the usual lacing-hooks a, or, so far as this invention is concerned, the shoe may be provided with lacing-eyes.

The fastening device comprises two cooperating members m and m, the member m (shown as secured to the end I) of the lacing) being preferably of metal and shaped to present a bend a, just back of which is an eye '21. and in front of which is preferably a second eye 71 As herein shown, the member m is struck up from a metallic blank 'm Fig. 5, shaped to present a shank portion 1, at one end of which are formed several ears 2 3 and at the opposite end the two ears 4 at. This blank is placed between suitable dies and the shank 1 formed to present the curve .or bend a, Fig. 4c, the edges of the shank being at the same time preferably curved or rounded over, as shown. The ears 2 2 and 4 4 are bent over toward each other to form,

I respectively, eyes a and 173, as shown, while the pointed ears 3 3 are curled over to clench the end of the lacing.

The member m of the fastening device is preferably a simple straight wire-like or cylindrical piece of metal, in its simplest form struck up and curled over from a flat blank, clenching the end b of the lacing at one of its ends, as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of the device is as follows: The shoe is laced in the usual manner, the hooked member an interfering not in the least therewith, even though the shoe be provided with eyes instead of hooks. The wearer then passes the hook or bend a of the member on back of both ends of the lacing a short distance above the top of the shoe, as shown in Fig. 1, thereafter sliding said member down toward the topmost hooks or eyes into its position, Fig. 2, thus drawing the two ends of the lacing tightly together, the ends of the lacing above the member m being in the meantime held between the fingers, as shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2. The ends of the lacing above the member 112 are now preferably given one or more turns about the bent or hooked shank of the said member, the said ends passing a second time through the bend and lying upon and crossing the portions of the lacing first passed through, as best shown in Fig. 2. The member m on the end 19 is now inserted through the eyes a and'n of the member m, as best shown in Fig. 3, completely closing the top or open side of the end of the lacing against displacement, said so tightly together at the points where they cross and lay one upon the other that it is impossible to loosen the fastening.

draw the member m from the eyes n n in the member on and unwind the ends of 'the lacing from the bend in the member m to uncross the lacing in the bend, when the two ends may be readily drawn apart and the shoe unlaced.

The manipulation is simple and in practice may be performed with great celerity.

The pulling strain caused by the tendency of the shoe to loosen is received and borne member m pressing the turns of the lacing To unfasten, it is necessary simply to with-- bend and forming an eyewhich retains the entirely by the twisting of the ends about the member an and the frictional crossing attending the same.

This invention is not restricted to the exact shape or manner of constructing the members herein shown and described, for the same obviously may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

\Vhile the fastening device herein shown is particularly adapted for use with boots and shoes, yet it may be used for any other suitable or desired purpose for which it is adapted.

If desired, the member on may be provided with a single eye only, as n, Fig. 6, through which the point of the cooperating member m may be inserted, said eye of itself, when of sufficient length, holding the two members together.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. The herein-described fastening device consisting of two cooperating members adapted to be secured respectively to the ends of the cord to be fastened, one of said members having an eye to receive the point of the other, and a bend in one of said members in which the ends to be fastened are laid and frictionally held by the other member when the twoare locked together, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described fastening device consisting of two cooperatin g members adapted to be secured respectively to the ends of the cord or cords to be fastened, one of said members having two eyes to receive the other member, and a bend in one of said members in which the ends to be fastened are laid and frictionally held by the other member when the two are locked together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT M. NICHOLS.

\Vitnesses:

AUGUSTA E. DEAN, FREDERICK L. EMERY. 

